The Cowboys Can Slow Micah Parsons in 4 Ways

Run Right at Parsons to Take Away His Edge

The way to slow Parsons is to run right at him. Inside zone, duo, and power plays force him to take on blocks and anchor—the area of his game where he is least effective.

Double-teams, trap blocks, and wham plays can neutralize his speed and create cutback lanes for Dallas’ backs.

This strategy also keeps Parsons from pinning his ears back and rushing freely on second and third downs. The more snaps he spends engaged in run defense, the less explosive he will be when Green Bay needs him to get after Dak Prescott.

Account for Rashan Gary on the Opposite Side

While focusing on Parsons, Dallas cannot ignore Rashan Gary, who has taken advantage of single blocking to become the league’s sack leader.

Gary wins with raw power and a relentless motor, so the Cowboys’ right tackle must be ready to anchor against bull rushes.

Dallas can:

• Slide protection toward Gary on obvious passing downs.
• Use chip blocks from tight ends or running backs to slow him down.
• Call bootlegs and rollouts away from Gary to give Dak a cleaner throwing platform.

Balancing attention between Parsons and Gary is critical—shutting one down is not enough.

Dominate the Trenches Early

Physical offensive line play is the key to neutralizing both rushers. TJ Bass, Tyler Smith, and Brock Hoffman can set a physical tone by moving defenders off the ball.

Using heavy personnel (12 or 13 sets) allows Dallas to control the line of scrimmage and get into second-and-short situations.

The more Dallas dictates with the run, the more predictable Green Bay becomes defensively.

Mix Play-Action, Quick Passing, and Tempo

Once the run game is established, play-action passes will freeze Parsons and Gary long enough for George Pickens and whoever they line up opposite (Tolbert, Turpin, or Flournoy) to win downfield.

Quick throws and screens prevent the pass rush from pinning its ears back.

Dallas should also use up-tempo drives at AT&T Stadium, keeping the Packers’ pass rush on the field and limiting substitutions. Sustained 10- to 12-play drives will drain the energy from both Parsons and Gary by the fourth quarter.

Keep Dak Clean with Varied Protection

Even with a strong run game, there will be must-throw situations.

Dallas should mix its pass protections—sometimes sliding toward Parsons, sometimes toward Gary—to keep Green Bay guessing. Chipping with backs and tight ends on both edges will be critical on third-and-long.

Changing the look of protection prevents either rusher from getting into a rhythm.

Parsons and Gary Will Get Pressures

Micah Parsons’ pressure numbers show he’s still a force even when the sacks aren’t piling up, and Rashan Gary is playing the best football of his career.

The Cowboys must run at Parsons, double Gary when needed, and stay ahead of the chains to keep both pass rushers from taking over the game.

With home-field advantage, tempo control, and a physical game plan, Dallas can wear down Green Bay’s two-headed pass-rush monster and give Dak Prescott the platform to execute an efficient, balanced attack.